How Much Should Professional Financial Advice Cost?
A professional financial advisor may be easier to find than you realize. All the investment firms have them on staff as well as most of the banks. If your finances are large or complicated you may want to consider contracting with an independent financial advisor to guide you through the maze of investments available.
How to go about Looking for Help.
Let's start with the easy, uncomplicated way of searching for advice. The first place should be your phone book. That way you'll know where the firm is located an if it will be convenient for your purposes. Assemble a small list of firms from the phone book, call and see what you can learn on the phone. Then you can determine if they will charge for a personal consultation and if they do what that fee will be. Also ask if they do charge a fee, and you contract their services if that fee will be credited back to your account. With the economy the way it is the firms may be more flexible in their charges.
Friends Can Help
You never know, someone from your golf club may have a great prospect. Conversely, a business associate may be able to steer you to a great performer. Doing this may also keep you away from making the same mistakes they did in the past with bad choices. Eliminating bad advisors is as important and finding good ones.
Do your Research
When you have completed your "short list" sit down at your computer and start your research. Google the person and the firm and check all the results. With the internet today there is no excuse for saying you didn't know.
Most of the financial websites that are independent will have unbiased appraisals of both firms and particular professional advisors. There are many websites by "celebrity" advisors such as Jim Cramer who give advice directly on the internet or through their websites. Chat rooms, blogs, or forums often address peoples experience with particular firms or advisors. Don't expect all good things, everyone has some detractors in the world. With this method you should be able to cull out the better candidates.
Your financial situation is unique and special to you. Be sure you find a firm/person who understands this and doesn't try to just sell you some package they are pushing this month. All firms/advisors will have an agenda so it is you job to sift through the suggestions and ask the questions. Bottom line - unless your 100% comfortable don't write the check. - 23305
How to go about Looking for Help.
Let's start with the easy, uncomplicated way of searching for advice. The first place should be your phone book. That way you'll know where the firm is located an if it will be convenient for your purposes. Assemble a small list of firms from the phone book, call and see what you can learn on the phone. Then you can determine if they will charge for a personal consultation and if they do what that fee will be. Also ask if they do charge a fee, and you contract their services if that fee will be credited back to your account. With the economy the way it is the firms may be more flexible in their charges.
Friends Can Help
You never know, someone from your golf club may have a great prospect. Conversely, a business associate may be able to steer you to a great performer. Doing this may also keep you away from making the same mistakes they did in the past with bad choices. Eliminating bad advisors is as important and finding good ones.
Do your Research
When you have completed your "short list" sit down at your computer and start your research. Google the person and the firm and check all the results. With the internet today there is no excuse for saying you didn't know.
Most of the financial websites that are independent will have unbiased appraisals of both firms and particular professional advisors. There are many websites by "celebrity" advisors such as Jim Cramer who give advice directly on the internet or through their websites. Chat rooms, blogs, or forums often address peoples experience with particular firms or advisors. Don't expect all good things, everyone has some detractors in the world. With this method you should be able to cull out the better candidates.
Your financial situation is unique and special to you. Be sure you find a firm/person who understands this and doesn't try to just sell you some package they are pushing this month. All firms/advisors will have an agenda so it is you job to sift through the suggestions and ask the questions. Bottom line - unless your 100% comfortable don't write the check. - 23305
About the Author:
Richard Moran is a Business Consultant and writer for Money Helpers. The Blog contains hundreds of articles, charts, and calculators to aid you in your Business health. All the aspects of the Blog are free and it is updated on an almost daily basis. If you are looking for any Business information or products they can be found on Money Helpers.
posted by Mr. Forex at
12:58 AM
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